Transgender Employee Sues Liberty University for Discrimination

Ellenor Zinski, a transgender woman, has filed a lawsuit against Liberty University after being terminated from her position at the IT Helpdesk shortly after she informed the university of her gender identity and her intention to legally change her name. The lawsuit, backed by the ACLU, claims her firing constitutes sex discrimination under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, despite the university's assertion that Zinski's self-identification conflicted with their doctrinal beliefs. Zinski, who performed well at the university, expressed her hope for acceptance rooted in Christian values, but faced a hostile environment that led to her termination based on her gender identity. The university maintains that employees must affirm a doctrinal statement that deems denial of one’s biological sex as a sin. Zinski is seeking $300,000 in damages and argues that her identity should not conflict with her faith. This case raises significant questions about the intersection of religious beliefs and transgender rights in the workplace.